Saturday, December 7, 2013

Evgeny Kissin has become a citizen of Israel.

Evgeny Kissin has become a citizen of Israel. Read his personal statement, via Tom Gross at Mideast Dispatch

(This Evgeny Kissin )

“I
am a Jew, Israel is a Jewish state – and since long ago I have felt
that Israel, although I do not live there, is the only state in the
world with which I can fully identify myself, whose case, problems,
tragedies and very destiny I perceive to be mine.

“If
I, as a human being and artist represent anything in the world, it is my
Jewish people, and therefore Israel is the only state on our planet
which I want to represent with my art and all my public activities, no
matter where I live.

“When Israel’s enemies try to
disrupt concerts of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra or the Jerusalem
Quartet, I want them to come and make troubles at my concerts, too:
because Israel’s case is my case, Israel’s enemies are my enemies, and I
do not want to be spared of the troubles which Israeli musicians
encounter when they represent the Jewish State beyond its borders.

“I
have always deeply despised chauvinism and have never regarded my
people to be superior to other peoples; I feel truly blessed that my
profession is probably the most international one in the world, that I
play music created by great composers of different countries, that I
travel all over the world and share my beloved music with people of
different countries and nationalities – but I want all the people who
appreciate my art to know that I am a Jew, that I belong to the People
of Israel. That’s why now I feel a natural desire to travel around the
world with an Israeli passport.”